COEUR Idea-Generation Workshops

“COEUR – Competence in EuroPreneurship” is the title of an international students workshop running every year in September at one of the COEUR network universities. Being open for students from all disciplines the COEUR – Workshop is an instrument to generate new entrepreneurial ideas with an European Dimension.

The COEUR – Workshop educates entrepreneurial skills and intercultural competencies by focusing on the phase before Business planning: Business Creativity - the problem definition and creative idea development. It thus presents an important contribution to support the development of an emerging European Entrepreneurship Culture.

In 2004 a network of Universities from Mainz (Germany), Aberdeen (Scotland), Wroclaw (Poland) and Portugal (Lisbon) realized in cooperation with JCI Europe (Junior Chamber International) the 1st COEUR Workshop in Mainz, where students met in an open atmosphere of innovation and creativity developing innovative entrepreneurial ideas with European dimension and presented the results at the annual Business Angels Network Deutschland (BAND) Conference. In 2005 the 2nd COEUR – Workshop (including Dijon/France as new partner) was successfully held at the partner institution in Scotland.

Through questionnaire evaluation students at each occasion confirmed that they had enjoyed an extraordinary intercultural learning experience. The concept had been worked out in greater detail and in September 2006 the 3rd workshop took place in Wroclaw (Poland) and Lisbon, Portugal in 2007. In 2008 the event was hosted by the partners in Dijon from 8th to 13th of September.

Download information on the COEUR Workshop 2008 under 'Participation and Application'.

Watch more of COEUR at you tube

www.coeur-module.eu

The Business Creativity Module (BCM) is an innovative European Union sponsored unit, jointly offered by six European Higher Education institutions in Germany, Scotland, Portugal, France, Poland and the Czech Republic.

Starting in winter term 2007/2008 – all 5th semester Bachelor and all Erasmus students, whatever their area of specialization, will be able to choose a course different from any other.

How different?

1. In contents: COEUR_BCM is focused on the creative process needed to identify opportunities and to develop concepts that provide viable solutions to the exploitation of those opportunities. Since, in the current environment, national markets are too small for sustainable entrepreneurial growth, COEUR_BCM focuses, from the start, in the vast European market.
2. In process: Students will form multi-national groups (CVT – Creative Venture Teams) with colleagues attending exactly the same course at the same time in 5 other European universities. Through internet communication and with the support of faculty in different countries, groups will identify needs or problems in the European market and develop solutions to meet those needs. Different? Risky? Confuse? Be daring and curious - you will never forget this unique experience. We will help you through.
3. In results: The course will not only give you credits: participating students will secure a valuable international network that will be very useful in the future. Besides they will get an extra-curricular certificate jointly issued by the participating universities.